Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-18
.vilizafion.n

Mhen the Revolutionary was Degun, II
was matter of great importance 10 secure
the neutrality Of the adjacent Indian tribes,
and two treaties were made to that effect
one In Pittsburg in 17Ib, aud another IN I776,
with the Delawares and other tribes. OF that
momentous period we shall have occasion to
speak in subsequent chapter, at some length.
AT the opening of the campaign of HI, the
hatchet was sent out from Detroit, (the Brit
ish headquarters on the lakes and was ac-
cepted by the Wyandots and the Shawnees;
but the Delawares remained an invincible
living wall between these hostile tribes and
English to the eastward; and thus this avenue
of warfare was barricaded, and perhaps the
nation was thereby saved to its proper own
ers and loyal citizens. In 1776 il was pro-
posed, as a reward, chief White Eyes cher
ished project, that the Delaware should be
represented in a Colonial Congress, and thus
ultimately become Christian State-but
this, of course, was never accomplished.
THE wYANDoTs, sHAwNEEs AND MANns.
Next in importance, perhaps, were the
Wyandots, originally settled on the st. Law
renee under the name Quatoghies, where they
formed an alliance with the Adirondack In
dians against the Five Nations; but they were
conquered and retreated to the southwest.
They were named Hurons or Guyandots by
the French, and Dellamattonos by the Della
wares; their proper name was perhaps Ahou-
andate, which was corrupted in Wyandot,
Junandat, and Wandot. The number of their
warriors in 1853 was not more than 300 and
in 1873 was but 180.
The Shawnees were from the Savannah and
'Suanee" river in Georgia originally, it is
said; coming north they settled among the
Delawares in Pennsylvania, but had left them
before the French war in 1853. Their best
towns in Ohio, were on Stony Creek, branch
of the Big Miami, and Wapaughkonetta, on
the Auglaize. Their greatrst chiefs were
Tecumseh, Black Hoof, Wolf, and Lewis; the
three last mentioned were in the American
interest in the final war. But Tecumseh
was most formal enemy of the colonists.
The Miamis were perhaps aboriginal, as
they had no tradition of removal to Ohio
soil from some other part of the country.
They were often called Twightwees; at the
beginning of the present century they had re-
moved to Lake Michigan, and lived where
Chicago now stands and also near Ft. Wayne.
In 1745 they could muster 400 warriors, but in
1909, through the wars with the Sacs and
Kickapoos, their number had been depleted
to about thirty. The Kaskaskies, Cabokies,
Peorias, Michigans, and Temororis all spoke
the Miami language or dialects of it, Their
name, Miami was given them by the French,
who also sometimes called them Maumees, especi-
ally the northern tribes around Toledo, The Pot
tawatomies were also a most formidable nation,
coming from the yicinage Of Lake Michigan and
settling up the Wabash, at Tppecanoe and Chip
poy, in Indiana. We mention them in this con-
nection as they eectualy prevented the incursions
Of the Five Nations beyond the Miami river, and
were leaders In Tecumsehis great battles.
The Ottawss came westward with the Wyand OTIS /;
their latest principal stand was at Mchilmackinac
four modern Makinawl, with the Chippewas.--
Their greatest chi ef was the famous Pontiac noted
for his conspiracy. Their name was sometimes
written Uttawas, and was In fact, we are told,
''w,tawas"-the being whistling sound with the
Indians The remaining territory east of the
Mississippi river was at this time occupied by the
Museoghees or Creeks, and the Choctaws. all of
whom had been driven northward from the
Southern States by the settlers there.
spsr THE RELIGION OF THE INDIANS.
Each nation was divided into tribes each tribe
into villages, and each village into households
each house or wigwam contained usually several
families, age giving precedence. Bravery and pru-
dence were the Indians best qualities Each tribe
had its own council house; when they resolved, to
vent them but rescuing the victim, as they became
afrenzied mob, governed by one impulse.
Various opinions Of their religion are entertained
by historians. One writer says: 1--WE wish the
religion of the Indians was as little doubtful as
their government. According to some they had a
most sublime notion of the Diety; Others find them
groveling in the grossest superstition. The Indian
considers himself being created by q powerful
wise and benefcent Manto, or Great Spirit, and ali
he possesses and enjoys he looks upon as given to
him by the Great Spirit who gave him life. The
truth II, the Indians had some vague idea of being
superior to themselves" This from q historian
almost contemporaneous with the existence of the
Indians Of this State, is credible; but historian
ofthe present day, Mr.. Alfred Matthews, in an
article on the "Indiap Occupation of Ohio,' to
which We are indebted, gives us q very different
account of their tenets: tSE y aEF N EEs
"Those deny to the American Indians any
love for the beautiful and any exercise of imagina
ton, might be Influenced to concede them the pos
session of such qualities, and in high degree by
the abundance of their fsncifu traditions, Of which
their account Of the origin of the Piqua is good
example. According to their practical legend, the
tribe began In perfect man who burst Into being
from fire and ashes. The ShsWnces said to the first
whites who mingled with them, that once
nation were sitting around the smouldering embers
of what had been the council fire, they startled
by great pulling Of fire and smoke and isuddenly
from the midst of ashes and dying Goals there arose
before them man Of splendid form end mien and
that he was named Piqua, to signify the manner of
his coming into the world-that he was born Of FIRE
and ashes. This legend Of the origin of the tribe
beautiful in its simplicity, has been made the sub
ject of comment by several writer's, as showing in
marked manner the romantic susceptibility of the
Indian character.
HiWanda, q learned Indian, says: s'The In
dams do not believe in everlasting punishment,
because they believe that everything they do is
proper But they know that they have a supreme
being to worship"
'The Indian myths are tangle of animism and
polytheism. When the Algonquin Indian meets
something he can not understand he fances Mani
to or spirit present-Manto meaning spirit, soul
"the first"
rTO RH CONTINUED. ...-r